Dipstick o' My Soul (Pt.2)

Ah tongue taming. The impossible task. The tongue, like a dipstick, reveals the condition of our heart. It reveals us a sinner. 1 John 1: 8 (NIV) states: "If we claim to be without sin" [that is, if the our dipstick attempts to read "holy"] "we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." [deceptive tongue]

We can't claim to be what we are not. What is interesting here is that the text doesn't say our words deceive anyone else. They deception is only on ourselves, to make us think we are better than we are, it is a self-centered deception. So is there a cure? Can we tame our tongues? Back to 1 John.

1 John 2:1-6 (NIV) "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."

Obedience is the key. Just as I cannot hope to be sinless of my own accord, I cannot hope to be completely obedient, but obedience is the key. I'm no mechanic when it comes to my vehicle, but I can check it out before taking it out on the open road. I can ensure that there is fuel, oil, and fluids, properly filled tires and functioning lights and signals. I can fix all those things when they are in need of repair, but I can identify the need and get it in the hands of one who is capable. In the case of my heart, I can do a similar check each morning. Where is my heart and to whom will I be obedient today, myself or my Lord and Savior? If there is a problem, to much self-centeredness, I can go in prayer each morning and ask for the mechanic--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One--to create in me a clean heart. The tongue linked to a heart made clean by Jesus is a dipstick that can correctly read "holy" and steer us on a course of obedience, and a life of service in the light.
I pray for all of us sinners that we may tame our tongues through obedient hearts made clean each day by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah so that God's love may be made complete in each of us according to His will.